Hosts in Nations Cup showdown

 

The Nations Cup is set for a grandstand finish with host nation Romania and Argentina Jaguars playing off for the title in the final match of the competition in Bucharest on Sunday.

 

Both sides are on nine points apiece going into this weekend's decisive match, with Romania boasting a plus 66 point differential compared to the Jaguars' plus 29. Spain and Namibia, who are both without a point, will battle it out for third spot.

 

In the opening match of the second round of the Nations Cup, two tries in the first 10 minutes of the second-half rewarded Argentinean skill and enterprise, taking the sting out of a physical and competitive Spanish team, who, until then, dominated the exchanges with a surprising degree of authority. It was one of those matches in which the perceived underdog, tackling their hearts out, managed to keep the favourites pinned in their own half for most of the first period. 

 

During the first-half, the Jaguars managed to enter the Spanish territory just twice, taking three points on one of their visits through a Cristian Nacassian penalty on five minutes.

 

The near parity achieved by Los Leones in the scrummage and the handling ability and the pace of their backs had definitely left the young Argentine side struggling to find a ‘Plan B’.

 

The input of coach Felipe Contepomi was clearly identifiable in the way the Jaguars recommenced after the break. Instead of looking for contact in attack, which left them largely at a disadvantage against a fierce Spanish defence, they looked to offload wherever possible. An early reward for the change of tactics came when fullback Tomas Cario glided his way through for the game’s first try on 41 minutes.

 

Five minutes later, a fairly similar, though less polished move, saw wing Franco Cuaranta speeding through for the second Argentine try, converted by flyhalf Nacassian.

 

Having opened up a 15-0 lead, the Jaguars reverted to their earlier approach but a defiant Spain kept tackling and the match ended with Los Leones kicking two penalties to give the scoreline a more respectable look.

 

After Wednesday's game all 27 members of the Argentine squad have been given a run out, which should put Contepomi in a good position to pick his best XV for Sunday’s decisive match against Romania.

 

"It was a tough game, against a very good opponent," acknowledged Spain captain Jaime Nava. 

 

"We had a good first-half, but we lost because we made too many little errors and didn’t have the necessary attention to detail. The tournament is very different from the Tbilisi Cup last year."

 

Romania produced a master-class of controlled forward power to subdue a gallant Namibian side into submission at the Arcul de Triumf Stadium, Putting the below-par performance against Spain to one side, the Oaks scored seven unanswered tries, four by their rampaging forwards, in an utterly competent performance that was seasoned with moments of outstanding skill by their backs, orchestrated by fullback Catalin Fercu.

Namibia took a short-lived lead through a penalty by flyhalf Shawn Kaizemi, but this ended following a scrum near the Namibia line some eight minutes later. The Namibian scrum was no match for the Romanian eight and conceded a pushover try, which was signed off by Romanian captain and No.8 Mihai Macovei.

 

Scrumhalf, Florin Surugiu, who had an imperious match behind his dominant pack, went over for the second try on the left. Two blistering counterattacks from Fercu set up try number three and four for wings Florin Ionita and Ionut Botezatu respectively.

 

After Macovei had crossed for his second try, in almost identica fashion to his first, South African-born flank Randall Morrison celebrated his first cap for his adopted country with a try, the sixth of the evening, the second South African player after flyhalf Judy Rose to make his debut for Romania.

 

Finally, kicking prodigy Florin Vlaicu added another nine points to the final scoreline, with a try and two conversions, not a bad return for his 15 minutes on the pitch.

 

 

 

Namibia v Spain

 

Romania v Argentina Jaguars

 

 

 

Romania 43-3 Namibia

Argentina Jaguars 15-6 Spain

 

 

Argentina Jaguars 30-10 Namibia

Romania 35-9 Spain

 

@WorldRugby